The Showbox

The Showbox is a live music venue at 1426 1st Ave in downtown Seattle, Washington, directly across from Pike Place Market. Opened in 1939 as a ballroom-style hall, it has hosted a long list of jazz, rock and pop performers over the decades and remains one of the city's best-known concert rooms. The interior keeps a classic ballroom feel, with a large floor for standing, a stage at one end and bars along the sides, and the atmosphere ranges from reverent to raucous depending on the act. The crowd is defined by the artist on the bill, mixing fans in their twenties through fifties, and most evening shows are 21 and over or all-ages depending on the listing, so visitors should check each event page. There is no dress code, and casual clothing is typical. The programming spans touring acts across genres, including rock, indie, hip-hop, electronic and pop, which makes the calendar varied. Bars in the venue serve beer, wine and cocktails at event prices, and the market and surrounding downtown blocks have plenty of food options before or after the show. Hours follow the show calendar, with doors typically in the early evening and sets running into the night. Tickets are sold in advance and typically cost around 25 to 75 US dollars, depending on the artist, and larger shows frequently sell out. There is no table booking or bottle service in the nightclub sense, though some events offer reserved or VIP areas. Arriving early secures a better standing position, and the closeness of Pike Place Market makes it simple to combine dinner with a concert. The venue is walkable from downtown hotels and transit, and nearby garages offer paid parking.